Progress in Cancer Scanning Compound

A NEW chemical compound which could improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been created by scientists at Durham University.

If successful, the new technique would remove the need for patients to undergo invasive diagnostic tests.

Research published in the academic journal, Chemical Communications, reveals this new compound could be used in an MRI scan to help identify the extent of progression of diseases such as cancer.

The researchers, who are part of an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded group developing new ways of imaging cancer, have created a chemical which contains fluorine.

It could, in theory, be given to the patient by injection before an MRI scan.

Professor David Parker of Durham University’s Department of Chemistry explained: “There is very little fluorine present naturally in the body so the signal from our compound stands out.

“When it is introduced in this form it acts differently depending on the acidity levels in a certain area, offering the potential to locate and highlight cancerous tissue.”

Professor Parker’s team is the first to design a version of a compound containing fluorine which enables measurements to be taken quickly enough and to be read at the right ‘frequency’ to have the potential to be used with existing MRI scanners, whilst being used at sufficiently low doses to be harmless to the patient.

Professor Parker, who believes the technique could be in use within the decade, continued: “We have taken an important first step towards the development of a selective new imaging method. However, we appreciate that there is a lot of work to do to put it into practice.”

Durham University has filed a patent on this new approach and is looking for commercial partners to help develop the research.

Chris Hiley, Head of Policy and Research Management at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “The researchers are still some way from testing how this new idea might work in people, but they are dealing with a knotty and important problem.”

(c) 2007 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.